June 3rd, 2020 – The Circus, Helsinki (FI) – SOLD OUT
June 9th, 2020 – Store VEGA, Copenhagen (DK)
Two of our favourite bands have joined together in unholy matrimony once again for our listening pleasure and have released a brand new single entitled ‘Trillion Dollar Man’.
The two The Hip Priests and two Bitch Queens members recorded four high energy action rock tracks in one day. 7″ will come in red and blue vinyl. All you streaming folk out there in cyberspace can also shove it on your playlist like we will be doing from here – Spotify
There’s something gloriously familiar about this second long-player from UK bovver rockers Hard Wax, something that I can’t quite put my finger on, but it’s something that right from the very first spin has me beaming from ear to ear, so it must be something good right?
They say the make of any band is the strength of their tunes…and here on ‘This Is The Sound’ Wax main man Tom Boutwood (ably assisted by Paul Bond on drums, Tom Murphy on lead guitar and Matt Colton on bass) has penned some of the finest Oi! infused terrace anthems you’ll hear anywhere this year. Just like the recently released Michael Monroe album it’s not exactly groundbreaking or genre-bending stuff but sometimes I just need my punk rock music to be just that, straight ahead and no-frills, and right here on ‘This Is The Sound’ what you get for your entry money are ten premium cuts of bovver boy rock ‘n’ roll.
Kicking off with ‘Welcome To Bovver Rock City’ this just shy of two-minute long intro bears all the hallmarks of Hard Wax’s upcoming UK tour partners Giuda, albeit a Giuda fronted by someone who sounds a hell of a lot like Ginge Knievel. And that right there is the familiar thing I couldn’t quite put my finger on at the top, because at times during ‘This Is The Sound’ it’s just like Mr Knievel has returned from his self-imposed exile and is finally fronting the band he’s always wanted to front. The similarity really is uncanny, but trust me, there’s a whole lot more to this record that the singer sounding a hell of a lot like the ex-Sick Livers/Nicotine Pretty frontman.
Things really kick off in style on ‘Living The Dream’, a proper piece of punk rock argy bargy designed to get your oxblood a-stomping. Elsewhere ‘This is The Sound’, ‘Days Of Glory’ (ooh hello Sailor) and ‘Razor Part Rebels’ (complete with an otherworldly Ace Frehley guitar riff) all steam out the blocks full of cock-sure 70s glam rock swagger and just a few spins later you’ll be singing along like you’ve had this album in your life since your childhood.
When the world outside your window is slowly turning to shit ‘This Is The Sound’ is the perfect pick me up record with tracks like ‘Have A Good Time’ and ‘Not Just a Pin-Up Girl’ guaranteed to make you smile once again, and in ‘Boys Of A Saturday Night’ and ‘Stomp All Over The World’ you have the near perfect soundtrack for a right proper tear up…on the dancefloor of course.
Which just leaves ‘In For a Penny’, a track I went straight to when I first got my copy of ‘This Is The Sound’ simply because I initially thought “wow a Slade cover that’s gonna take some balls”. Well, it’s actually not a cover, although the guitar riff is equal parts Hill and Holder and it’s the kind of glorious call to arms tune that would have seen Hard Wax on Top Of The Pops had it been released back in the 70s.
With a whole raft of great new punk rock records released by UK bands in 2019 (if you think otherwise then you really do need to read RPM more) I’m delighted to say that ‘This Is The Sound’ is right up there with the very best of them.
Now go get your boots on and get down your record shop and get yourself a copy.
Buy this is the sound Here
Author: Johnny Hayward
Was it really twelve months ago today we got the really sad news that friend of the website todd youth had sadly passed away. A year flys by and there have been plenty of times several of us have talked about his sad passing and the legacy he left behind whether it be introducing some of the magnificent bands he was a member of or telling stories of the brief moments we shared with the guy. We’ve had a whole year to think about his effect on our little scene and some of our favourite bands have to be the line up he was in alongside Johnny Martin (Now an LA Gun) as part of Jesse Malins St Marks Band. It has been said that this was the finest line up Jesse has been in since D Generation no doubt about it.
Another band he spent a brief time in was the magnificent hardcore racket that was Bloodclot alongside legend vocalist John Joseph (Cro-Mags), Nick Oliveri (Dwarves) and Joey Castillo (Danzig). But it all began when Youth was still Todd Schofield a New Jersey boy who ventured over to the LES when it was a tough neighbourhood and not the sanitized high street it is today. He started out in Warzone before graduating to Murphys Law where he stayed until 95. Todd then went on to replace Richard Bacchus in D Generation in ’96 and recorded ‘Through The Darkness’ after D Gen split he formed Chrome Locust with fellow D Gen Michael Wildwood.
It was after the Chrome Locust album that he then moved onto Danzig and worked with Joey for the first time after turning down the chance to join Foo Fighters and the Hellacopters. Whilst playing with Danzig he got to record the one studio album with Glen that featured his fellow Bloodclot mate on drums former D Gen legend Howie Pyro on bass and of course Danzig on the ‘ I Luciferi’ album as well as the live Danzig album. later in 2007 he left Danzig and became the guitar player for none other than Glen Campbell.
Sometime later when we got to meet him he had formed the awesome Chelsea Smiles with Karl Rosqvist, Johnny Martin, and Skye Vaughan-Jayne and also reformed Son Of Sam. He also almost made it into Gunfire 76 with Wednesday 13 and the inaugural line up of Michael Monroe’s band but Youth split at the 11th hour to play the guitar with one of his heroes Ace Frehley. youth lasted four years playing with Ace and we spoke once when he played Bristol with the St Marks Social that he had been stranded in the UK as Ace pulled his shows leaving members of his band in the UK without a show. Anyway, it was 2017 when youth hooked up with Bloodclot (I hope you’re keeping up here folks?) to record the epic ‘Up In Arms’. To be fair to Youth he turned in some epic performances in his time on this planet and along with Chelsea Smiles and Chrome Locust or Bloodclot and Fireburn he certainly left his mark with some amazing records.
Todd was 47 when he passed away and that’s way too young. We miss you man see you in the next life.
Another East coast Legend who sadly passed away on this same day was the one and only Lou Reed. Lewis Allen Reed was born in Brooklyn March 2nd 1942. He’s somebody who doesn’t need any introduction and was forever pushing the envelope of Rock and Roll from way back when he was part of the whole Warhol scene and originally moved to NYC to be an inhouse writer for Pickwick Records before forming a partnership with Welshman john Cale whom he lived with in the LES and went on to form the Velvet underground. It was through Warhol that his association with Nico (A German Model) that Reed wrote some songs after initially rejecting the idea of working with her.
In the 70s Reed signed with RCA who also had some notable other significant Glam Rock pioneers on their roster and he went on to form lasting friendships with bowie and Iggy Pop. It was 72s ‘Transformer’ album that broke through for Reed which happened to be produced by Bowie and his fellow Spider from Mars Mick Ronson. The single “Walk on the Wild Side” got him noticed as his anthem for the misfits of the world and the so-called weirdos and gender benders of the time but it was Reeds biggest hit managing to evade scrutiny for its playful lyrics of New York nightlife. Ahead of his time? For sure he was. He had a rather tempestuous friendship with Bowie and wasn’t afraid to disagree with his friend with his fists.
Reed had some success with ‘Berlin’ but decided to follow it up with an album primarily made up of metallic feedback and almost unlistenable music that was ‘Metal Machine Music’ no doubt an inspiration to many noisemakers further down the line such as ginger Wildheart for his Mutations records and Endless Nameless albums (possibly).
Drugs and booze might have had something to do with Reed’s creative mindset at the time but it wasn’t long before he would indeed clean up his act (as Bowie had previously requested) He got married at the turn of the 1980s and went on to produce some of his finest work in that decade. ‘New York’ ended the decade for Reed and gave him only his second Gold Record.
the 90s saw him work with former VU compadre Cale on the album ‘Songs For Drella’. He also played Glastonbury was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with his fellow VU bandmates. He also went on to record a bizarre record with Metallica after playing with the band at MSG in NYC ‘Lulu’ had only sold 13,000 copies in its first week of sales and ever the philosophical musician Reed joked that he’d finally pissed off all his fans and didn’t have any left.
It was in 2013 after suffering for years with hepatitis and diabetes Reed was diagnosed with Liver Cancer and after undergoing a transplant in the May of that year it was in the October Reed said he was bigger and he eventually passed away from liver disease at the age of 71. He was posthumously inducted into the #Hall Of Fame as a solo artist a year after his passing and Reed will forever be associated with the city he loved Lou Reed and New York go hand in hand and many of his songs are about the city and its only right that we remember such a legend on this day. Rest In Peace Mr Lou Reed. #Legend
Pre-sales are up for one of our favourite Norweigan bands. The Good The Bad And The Zugly will release their new album ‘Algorithm & Blues’ in January and pre-sales are already up for grabs. Available in Transparent blue vinyl (limited to 250 copies) Transparent yellow vinyl (limited to 250 copies) Standard black vinyl (limited to 800 copies)
and Digipack CD.
Artwork is done by Flu Hartberg as always and it’ll come out on Fysisk Format and as a taster, the single ‘Staying With The Trouble’ is released.
First things first, this interview was conducted during the Rebellion Festival on the afternoon of the band’s performance. Spunk and his Eruptions are about to head out on some dates around Europe so what better time to get the blood pumping and get you up for some loud punk rock n roll.
There’s some Indonesian Junk going around the streets of Milwaukee and it seems to be causing a bit of a glam punk riot. The new album, Spiderbites, from this American trio is full to the brim with punk attitude, pop hooks, and a rock ‘n’ roll swagger.
From the cool, stylish opener ‘Mean Christine’ to the rolling outro of ‘See the Light’, every track is full of confident, determined brashness, enveloped in melody and honey-like catchiness. Whether it’s the slick sounds of ‘City Lights’, or the enjoyable aggro of ‘When I Find You’, the record contains all the ingredients that make glam-punk immensely enjoyable. Sounds of the Ramones, Thunders, and Hanoi Rocks are oozing from every pore, but with modern drive and that extra layer of catchy stuff.
it’s a stomping beast from start to finish, with some twists and turns along the way. ‘Our Town’ veers between hard rock to almost horror punk choruses. ‘Through the Night’ is a fantastic 2-minute romp conjuring up evenings spent with your head in the toilet, and ‘I Could Die’ is a laid back stumble back through the night.
So paint up your ‘Animal Eyes’ and get ready for a ‘Wild, Wild Party’ with Indonesian Junk (the band only, obviously).
Author: Craggy Collyde
DUE OUT 6TH DECEMBER VIA PARTISAN RECORDS
PRE-ORDER HERE
IDLES have announced their first live album ‘A Beautiful Thing: IDLES Live at Le Bataclan’, and have shared the live version of ‘Mother’ taken from the record.
The limited double LP edition will be available across three different colours, each with their own individual artwork. All will be housed in deluxe gatefold packaging, and each will contain a booklet designed by Joe, featuring photographs from the show and a selection of poetry.
“A Beautiful Thing: IDLES Live at Le Bataclan” will also be available to buy on CD and as a download.
The album follows a recent Mercury Prize nomination (and incendiary televised performance) for their critically acclaimed second album “Joy as an Act of Resistance”, and celebrates a landmark couple of years for the band with a top 5 official UK album chart position, an Ivor Novello award for ‘Best Album’, a breathtaking Glastonbury performance, a completely individual appearance on Later With… Jools Holland and a number of sold out tours across the world. IDLES were also recently chosen for Apple’s ongoing Shot On iPhone campaign, with billboards up now across the globe.
Speaking about the album, vocalist Joe Talbot says, “Our show at Bataclan was the end of a very long journey for us. On that tour we learnt so much about ourselves, each other and the audiences we have grown with over the past 10 years. That show was nothing short of catharsis and nothing more than love. We love what we do and the people who have carried us here, there was no hiding that at Bataclan and we are so very grateful that the moment was captured in all its glory, love and fatigue. Long live the open minded and long live the moment.”
IDLES also recently announced a short tour for December to celebrate the bands recent string of achievements – including their biggest headlining date yet on Saturday, 7th December at London’s Alexandra Palace. All five dates went on to sell out within the first 24 hours.
Mon 2 Dec Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom SOLD OUT
Tue 3 Dec Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom SOLD OUT
Wed 4 Dec Manchester, Academy SOLD OUT
Thu 5 Dec Leeds, O2 Academy SOLD OUT
Sat 7 Dec London, Alexandra Palace SOLD OUT
‘A Beautiful Thing: IDLES Live at Le Bataclan’ will be released 6th December via Partisan Records. Pre-order HERE
Photo credit: Lindsay Melbourne
Keyboard player and howler John Wesley Myers, aka Rev James Leg, (Black Diamond Heavies, The Immortal Lee County Killers ) travels around the world preaching the punk blues.
The son of a Texas preacher raised in The South on Gospel music, James Leg distils his particular brew of traditional roots and urban feedback. the result is as explosive as it is pure Rock and Roll!
EAST EUROPE TOUR DATES
November 18 @ Chelsea — Vienna, AT
November 21 @ Hard Place — Zagreb, HR
November 22 @ Štedna — Virovitica, HR
November 23 @ Caffe Bar King — Ðakovo, HR
November 24 @ Dorcol Platz w/ Detroit Cobras — Beograd, RS
November 25 @ Dorćol Platz w/ Guitar Wolf — Beograd, RS
November 26 @ Bar Amok — Sofia, BG
November 27 @ Aigli — Serres, GR
November 29 @ Bizzarnica — Ljubljana, SI
November 30 @ Kino Ebensee — Ebensee, AT
December 10 @ Cafe Glocksee — Hannover, DE
December 12 @ TIEF — Berlin, DE
December 14 @ Zum Faulen August — Cottbus, DE
Finally, Friends of RPM ONLINE The Hip Priests get added to the bill for 2020 along with some other heavyweight bands we love. No doubt all roads lead North West for the Spasm Gang along with Bouncing Souls and T.S.O.L these additions have excited us here at RPM HQ that’s for sure.
If you’ve never heard of the Hip Priests then you should have a word with yourself but before you do check out their epic call to arms –
Here is the list of today’s announcements to accompany what has already been announced. 2020 is already shaping up to one hell of a Rebellion
BOUNCING SOULS
T.S.O.L.
DYS
D.I.
ADRENALIN O.D.
999
THE MEN THEY COULDN’T HANG
AUTHORITY ZERO
NEWTOWN NEUROTICS
ALTERNATIVE TV
MENACE
GOLDBLADE
SPLOGENESSABOUNDS
LOS FASTIDIOS
CHAOTIC DISCHORD
CRIM
GIMPFIST
HOBO JONES & THE JUNKYARD DOGS
FUNERAL DRESS
CONTROL
RISKEE AND THE RIDICULE
CALL ME MALCOLM
CRASHED OUT
EXTERNAL MENACE
ROUND EYE ( CHINA)
HEADSTICKS
LIINES
CRACKED ACTORS
LA INQUISICION
VIRUS
THE LONG GAME
DANGEROUS DAVE & THE SIDE EFFECTS
ALCOHOL LICKS
TERMINAL RAGE
AMBITION DEMOLITION
WHITE RIBBONS
CHAOS 8
HIP PRIESTS
SLOW FACTION
DESENSITISED
COMPLETE DYSFUNCTION
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